Integrated analysis of fish intestine biomarkers: Complementary tools for pollution assessment

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 178; p. 113590
• Main Authors: Marinsek, Gabriela Pustiglione, Choueri, Paloma Kachel Gusso, Choueri, Rodrigo Brasil, de Souza Abessa, Denis Moledo, Gonçalves, Alexandre Rodrigo Nascimento, Bortolotto, Lorihany Bogo, de Britto Mari, Renata
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemical biomarkers; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - metabolism; Brazil; Density; Enteric nervous system; Environmental assessment; Environmental Pollution; Environmental quality; Evaluation; Fish; Gastrointestinal system; Gastrointestinal tract; Histology; Intestine; Intestines; Intestines - chemistry; Metabolism; Morphometry; Morphophysiological biomarkers; Nervous system; Pollution; Tetraodontiformes - metabolism; Uptake; Xenobiotics; Brazil; Enteric nervous system; Histology; Biochemical biomarkers; Morphophysiological biomarkers
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113590

The gastrointestinal tract and its enteric nervous system are the first routes of food and xenobiotics uptake. Considering the importance of this organ, this study evaluated intestinal biomarkers of Sphoeroides testudineus integrating the data to generate tools for pollution assessment. The fish were collected in three sites of São Paulo Coast and their intestines were analyzed for biochemical, histology, and neuronal density and morphometry biomarkers. To evaluate the differences among the data, a PERMANOVA was applied, followed by a FA/PCA. The PERMANOVA indicated differences (P < 0.001) between the regions (RA, A1, and A2). Four factors were extracted from the FA/PCA (62% cumulative), showing that the animals from A2 presented severe alterations, mainly in intestinal morphometry and neuronal density. A1 alterations refer mainly to the increase of neuronal metabolism. Our results also evidence a gradient of environmental quality related to the protection level (AR > A1 > A2).
•Ambiental stressors caused increase in intestinal layers and IELs.•Stressors disponibles in water can decrease, generally, the density of enteric nervous system neurons.•Areas with high levels of anthropogenic influences can lead to changes in intestinal peristalsis.